Sunday, February 22, 2015

BARANQUILLA, Colombia—Mount Spokane HS senior John Dressel’s (left/photos by Mike Scott) fourth place finish helped Team USA to one of three team victories in the Copa Panamericana de Cross Country meet Sunday in the Colombian city.

Dressel, the third place finisher at the USA junior championships two weeks ago who signed a national letter of intent to attend the University of Colorado, ran 19:23 on a course that allegedly was between 5 and 6 kilometers, as Justyn Knight from Canada took the win in 19:04, followed by USA national junior champ Conner Mantz in 19:13.

University of Washington freshman Fred Huxham finished eighth in a time of 19:43, as all five USA scorers finished in the top 10, earning a low score of 20 (4 score) to runner-up Canada’s 38.

In the senior women’s announced 7k race, Eastern Washington alum Mattie Suver finished fifth in a time of 21:36, with Gladys Tejada of Peru winning in 21:18, followed by top American Kellyn Taylor in 21:34.

Washington alum Christine Babcock (above/photo by Mike Scott), who had battled injuries over the last eight months, was ninth in 22:03, as the USA took another team trophy by a 22-43 count over Canada.

In the senior men’s race, Stanford graduate student Maksim Korolev produced a late surge on the hard and flat course announced at 10k to win in his international debut in a time of 28:21, as Team USA placed five runners in the top eight.

Lakewood resident Joe Gray finished seventh in 29:07 as Team USA’s final scorer to help the squad garner its third team championship of the day, scoring a team low 15 points over runner-up Ecuador’s 52.

We are honored to receive this award, as it comes from our peers who passionately cover the sport, and strive to continue the legacy of excellence that the late Adam Jacobs sought before his untimely passing.

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About Me

Internationally respected track and field writer Paul Merca brings his take on the sport to paulmerca.blogspot.com.
Paul was the assistant director of communications for the 1984 USA Women's Olympic Marathon Trials in Olympia, WA., and public relations director for the 1999 USA Cross Country Championships in Tacoma, WA.
The current public address announcer for the University of Washington's home track and field meets, Merca's been a media assistant to the USA national team (2001-11, 13, 15) at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships.
His vast knowledge of the sport has been utilized by many of the country's sports television networks, and is a senior writer to Northwest Runner magazine. He's covered twelve IAAF World Track & Field Championships, and two Olympics.
Merca graduated from Seattle's Franklin High School in 1977, and received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Washington in 1981 in Communications.
He competed in track and cross country at Franklin, and ran cross country at the University of Washington.